Police believe killer is in video

Saturday

May 10, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - Investigators released video surveillance footage Friday that they believe shows the gunmen responsible for the shooting that killed a man as he drove home to his family Tuesday evening in east Stockton.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - Investigators released video surveillance footage Friday that they believe shows the gunmen responsible for the shooting that killed a man as he drove home to his family Tuesday evening in east Stockton.

The video shows three males and two females who were walking east on East Marsh Street near South F Street at 6:09 p.m. Tuesday. About 90 seconds later, they cross East Marsh Street and are momentarily obscured by trees before two males emerge from the shadows.

One or both males then appear to assume firing stances while pointing objects in a westerly direction, said Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department. The video shows multiple gunshots being fired, including the shot that killed Jesus Villegas Mendoza, a 23-year-old minister who had a wife and a 20-month old daughter, Silva said.

Investigators believe the fatal shot traveled about 100 yards before passing through the windshield of a burgundy Acura 3.2 TL that was traveling east on East Main Street just west of Sharon Avenue, Silva said. The bullet struck Mendoza in the head, witnesses said. Authorities do not believe Mendoza was the intended target, Silva said.

After the shots are fired, the three males in the video are seen running in a northeasterly direction across East Marsh Street.

"By releasing this video, we are hoping that someone will recognize the suspects and provide their names to investigators," Silva said. "Mr. Mendoza was just doing what most of us do when we leave work - going home to be with his family."

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377, the Investigations Unit at (209) 937-8323 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $10,000. Callers can remain anonymous.

Cellphone users can text information to 274637 (CRIMES) by entering the keyword "TIPSPD" followed by their tip. Internet users can visit the Police Department's Facebook page and click "Submit a Tip."

Contact reporter Jason Anderson at (209) 546-8279 or janderson@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/crimeblog and on Twitter @Stockton911.